EVELYN

CHAPTER SIX

Evelyn's POV

Fast forward to Sunday morning..
The sun shone through the stained-glass windows of the church, casting colorful patterns on the pews. The air was warm and the scent of incense lingered in the space, giving everything an almost sacred feel. I sat with my friends, the ones I could count on to bring me back to something close to normal. Mariam had mentioned the importance of community, and while I didn’t exactly feel the weight of it, being with my friends gave me a sense of belonging I hadn’t realized I needed.

After the service, we spilled out into the bright sunlight, the streets alive with chatter as people greeted one another. I fell in step with my friends.. the  girls I’d known since I moved here. We had our own corner in the café down the street where we usually caught up, and today was no different.

We grabbed a booth, the usual banter flowing easily between us. The tension that had gripped me in the days before seemed lighter, even if only for the moment.

“So, Evelyn,” Amber  said with a teasing smile, “did you meet anyone interesting this week? I saw you looking all distracted at church this morning. Spill.”

I hesitated, but then thought, why not? I could always use a laugh to ease the weight of the world. “Actually, I met this guy on Saturday,” I said, leaning back against the booth. “His name’s Luke. He’s new to the neighborhood.”

Jasmine raised an eyebrow. “Oh, new guy in town, huh? Was he cute?”

“Yeah, he was... nice,” I said, trying to sound nonchalant. “We ran into each other on one of my walks. He’s kind of... easygoing. You know, the type who just clicks with everyone.”

Amber leaned in, her eyes twinkling. “Ooooh, sounds like someone’s got a little crush. You were smiling all big when you said that.”

I rolled my eyes, but a smile tugged at the corner of my lips. “I swear, I was just making sure I didn’t trip over him. It wasn’t like that.”

Jasmine laughed. “Right, right. So, is he just another random guy, or do we need to start planning your wedding?”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” I laughed, shaking my head. “It’s nothing like that. We just... talked.”

They all looked at me with amused expressions, Maya didn't really say anything..but I could tell they weren’t buying it. Still, I didn’t feel like going into the details. It was nice to be able to tease and laugh, to let the conversation flow without the weight of my father’s expectations or Mr. Langston's weird gaze looming over me.

The topic quickly shifted when Amber asked, “Speaking of things happening at your house, I heard your dad’s throwing one of those big parties soon. Something about important people?”

“Yeah,” I sighed, leaning forward, the smile fading. “He wants me to meet a bunch of his... business contacts or whatever. I swear, sometimes I feel like I’m just a pawn in some game he’s playing. The pressure's unbearable.”

Jasmine raised her eyebrows. “Pressure from what? Just smile and wave, and they’ll leave you alone.”

Maya added, “Yeah, what’s the worst that could happen? They just want to see you, right? They’re probably more concerned about your dad than you.”

I chuckled softly at their attempt to lighten the mood. “Yeah, probably. It’s just exhausting, you know? I can’t remember the last time I went to one of those things and didn’t want to crawl into a hole.”

They laughed again.., and I felt a little lighter. Sometimes it was easier to laugh than to deal with the truth.

---

By the time I got home, the house was nearly unrecognizable. There were workers buzzing around, rearranging furniture, touching up walls, and bringing in new pieces. It felt like my whole world was being shifted around, and not just physically. There was a sense of urgency, a need to make everything pristine, as if the chaos at home could be fixed with a fresh coat of paint or a new rug.

I slipped past the workers, up to my room, and closed the door quietly behind me. The last thing I wanted right now was to engage in any long conversations, so I made my way to my bed and stretched out, hoping for a moment of peace.

My head had been pounding since the moment I walked in the door. The noise, the constant movement—it all felt too much. I reached for the bottle of pills on my nightstand and swallowed one quickly, hoping it would numb the ache behind my eyes.

I closed my eyes, letting the dark blur into nothingness as I lay there in silence and eventually, the quiet of my room lulled me into sleep.